US6435582B1 - Object manipulator and manipulation system - Google Patents
Object manipulator and manipulation system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US6435582B1 US6435582B1 US09/628,969 US62896900A US6435582B1 US 6435582 B1 US6435582 B1 US 6435582B1 US 62896900 A US62896900 A US 62896900A US 6435582 B1 US6435582 B1 US 6435582B1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gripper
- finger
- assembly
- surface portions
- camming surface
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- Expired - Fee Related
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Images
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
- G01N35/04—Details of the conveyor system
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25J—MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES
- B25J15/00—Gripping heads and other end effectors
- B25J15/0052—Gripping heads and other end effectors multiple gripper units or multiple end effectors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25J—MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES
- B25J15/00—Gripping heads and other end effectors
- B25J15/08—Gripping heads and other end effectors having finger members
- B25J15/10—Gripping heads and other end effectors having finger members with three or more finger members
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
- G01N35/04—Details of the conveyor system
- G01N2035/0401—Sample carriers, cuvettes or reaction vessels
- G01N2035/0406—Individual bottles or tubes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
- G01N35/04—Details of the conveyor system
- G01N2035/046—General conveyor features
- G01N2035/0465—Loading or unloading the conveyor
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/0099—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor comprising robots or similar manipulators
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
- G01N35/026—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to the manipulation of selected objects and, more particularly, to a robotic system in which objects are selectively picked from one location and placed in another location.
- the present invention is particularly well-suited for picking and placing objects held in a closely spaced array of similar objects.
- Test tubes for example, are often stored or temporarily held in a tray including an array of closely spaced test tubes of like size.
- the object manipulator of the present invention may be utilized in an object manipulation system to move selected test tubes to and from the array of closely spaced tubes.
- an object manipulator including a gripper assembly arranged to grip and release an object.
- the gripper assembly comprises a plurality of gripper fingers, a gripper finger pivot assembly, and a finger spreader.
- Each of the gripper fingers includes a camming surface portion, a bearing surface portion, and an object engaging portion.
- the gripper finger pivot assembly is arranged to accommodate respective bearing surface portions of the plurality of gripper fingers.
- the finger spreader is positioned to progressively engage respective camming surface portions of the plurality of gripper fingers.
- the gripper fingers are shaped and the pivot assembly is arranged such that progressive engagement of respective camming surface portions by the finger spreader causes the object engaging portions to be drawn away from each other and such that progressive disengagement of respective camming surface portions and the finger spreader causes the object engaging portions to be drawn towards each other.
- the camming surface portion, the bearing surface portion, and the object engaging portion may be arranged in succession along each of the gripper fingers.
- the object engaging portion may include a layer of object gripping material formed thereon.
- the bearing surface portion may be substantially straight.
- the gripper finger pivot assembly may be arranged to define respective passages there through, and wherein the respective passages are arranged to accommodate respective bearing surface portions of the plurality of gripper fingers.
- the bearing surface portions of the plurality of gripper fingers may define a circular finger cross section and the respective passages may define a circular passage cross section slightly larger than the circular finger cross section.
- the respective passages may be defined by separate mating portions of the gripper finger pivot assembly;
- a biasing member may be arranged to urge the object engaging portions towards each other.
- the biasing member may comprise a constrictive band arranged about the gripper fingers.
- the biasing member may be arranged to oppose progressive engagement of respective camming surface portions by the finger spreader.
- the plurality of gripper fingers may be shaped such that, upon progressive engagement of the camming surface portions by the finger spreader, a path of movement of the object engaging portions follows a path of movement of the camming surface portions.
- the finger spreader may be arranged to initially engage the camming surface portions at a first cross sectional portion thereof and subsequently engage the camming surface at progressively larger cross sectional portions thereof.
- the first cross sectional portion and the progressively larger cross sectional portions of the finger spreader may be circular.
- An axial stop may be provided against which the camming surface portions are arranged to rest upon disengagement of the camming surface portions and the finger spreader.
- the axial stop may define an axial stop cross section that is no larger than a cross section of an object to be manipulated.
- the axial stop may define a circular axial stop cross section.
- the finger spreader may be arranged to progressively engage and disengage the camming surface portions by moving along the axial stop.
- a gripper finger bracket may be arranged along the gripper fingers between respective camming surface portions and respective bearing surface portions.
- the gripper finger bracket may be arranged to define respective finger bracket apertures through which respective gripper fingers move upon progressive engagement and disengagement of the camming surface portions by the finger spreader.
- the respective finger bracket apertures may define an arcuate shape.
- an object manipulator comprising a rotary turret assembly and a plurality of gripper assemblies.
- the rotary turret assembly defines a plurality of gripper assembly stations and a gripper pick/place position.
- the rotary turret assembly is arranged to rotate the gripper assembly stations about a turret axis so as to position a selected one of the gripper assembly stations in the pick/place position.
- the plurality of gripper assemblies are arranged in respective ones of the gripper assembly stations.
- the rotary turret assembly includes a gripper actuator assembly arranged to cause a gripper assembly positioned in the pick/place position to execute an object pick/place operation.
- the plurality of gripper assemblies may be removably secured in respective ones of the gripper assembly stations.
- the gripper actuator may be arranged to remove a gripper assembly positioned in the pick/place position from one of the gripper assembly stations.
- the plurality of gripper assemblies may be removably secured in respective ones of the gripper assembly stations through magnetic coupling of the gripper assemblies and the gripper assembly stations.
- Each of the gripper assemblies may comprise a plurality of gripper fingers and a finger spreader positioned to progressively engage respective camming surface portions of the plurality of gripper fingers.
- the gripper assembly may be arranged such that progressive engagement of respective camming surface portions of the gripper fingers by the finger spreader causes object engaging portions of the gripper fingers to be drawn away from each other and such that progressive disengagement of respective camming surface portions of the gripper fingers and the finger spreader causes the object engaging portions to be drawn towards each other.
- the gripper actuator may be further arranged to actuate a finger spreader of a gripper assembly positioned in the pick/place position following removal of the gripper assembly from one of the gripper assembly stations.
- the gripper actuator assembly may further comprise a spreader actuator arranged to engage a selected finger spreader and move the selected finger spreader along an axis parallel to the turret axis.
- the gripper actuator assembly may further comprise a Z-axis drive arranged to move a selected gripper assembly along a Z-axis parallel to the turret axis.
- the object manipulator may further comprise a bar code reader secured to the object manipulator and defining a field of view encompassing the pick/place position.
- an object manipulation system comprising a plurality of objects arranged in an object plane, an X-Y positioner, and an object manipulator.
- the X-Y positioner is arranged to move within an X-Y plane displaced from and parallel to the object plane.
- the object manipulator is coupled to the X-Y positioner so as to be movable with the X-Y positioner.
- the object manipulator comprises a rotary turret assembly and a plurality of gripper assemblies.
- the rotary turret assembly defines a plurality of gripper assembly stations and a gripper pick/place position.
- the rotary turret assembly is arranged to rotate the gripper assembly stations about a turret axis so as to position a selected one of the gripper assembly stations in the pick/place position.
- the gripper assemblies are arranged in respective ones of the gripper assembly stations.
- the rotary turret assembly includes a gripper actuator assembly arranged to cause a gripper assembly positioned in the pick/place position to execute an object pick/place operation on one of the objects in the object plane.
- Additional X-Y positioners may be arranged to move parallel to the object plane in the same work cell as the original positioner. In which case, additional object manipulators may be coupled to each of the additional X-Y positioners.
- FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a closed gripper assembly according to the present invention
- FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an open gripper assembly according to the present invention.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 are isometric illustrations of an object manipulator according to the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an object manipulator according to the present invention.
- FIGS. 6-9 illustrate an object pick/place operation according to the present invention
- FIG. 10 illustrates an object manipulator according to the present invention incorporating a bar code reader.
- a gripper assembly 10 according to the present invention is illustrated.
- the gripper assembly 10 is arranged to grip and release an object.
- the object 100 comprises a test tube.
- the present invention may be utilized to manipulate objects other than test tubes as well.
- the gripper assembly 10 comprises a set of gripper fingers 20 , a gripper finger pivot assembly 30 , and a finger spreader 40 .
- Each of the gripper fingers 20 include a camming surface portion 22 , a substantially straight bearing surface portion 24 , and an object engaging portion 26 arranged in succession along each of the gripper fingers 20 .
- the object engaging portions 26 include a layer 28 of rubber or other object gripping material.
- Four gripper fingers 20 are illustrated in the figures of the present invention; however, it is noted that as few as two gripper fingers 20 may be provided.
- the gripper fingers also include a radial portion 25 designed to help define a path of movement of the fingers 20 upon engagement and to prevent the gripper fingers 20 from simply moving directly downwards when engaged by the finger spreader 40 . It is contemplated by the present invention that the gripper fingers 20 need not be identical and that the illustrated design, shape, and profile of each gripper finger 20 may be modified to suit the demands of specific applications of the present invention.
- the gripper finger pivot assembly 30 is arranged to accommodate respective bearing surface portions 24 of the plurality of gripper fingers 20 . Specifically, the gripper finger pivot assembly 30 is arranged to define respective passages 32 there through which accommodate the respective bearing surface portions 24 .
- the respective passages 32 are defined by separate mating portions 34 , 36 of the gripper finger pivot assembly 30 .
- the bearing surface portions 24 define a circular finger cross section and the respective passages 32 define a circular passage cross section slightly larger than the circular finger cross section. In this manner, each gripper finger 20 is pivotally secured by the gripper finger pivot assembly 30 .
- a spring, constrictive band, or other type of biasing member 38 is arranged about the gripper fingers 20 so as to urge the object engaging portions 26 towards each other, i.e., towards the closed position of FIGS. 1A and 1B, and oppose progressive engagement of respective camming surface portions 22 by the finger spreader 40 .
- the plurality of gripper fingers 20 are shaped such that, upon progressive engagement of the camming surface portions 22 by the finger spreader 40 , a path of movement of the object engaging portions 26 follows a path of movement of the camming surface portions 22 .
- the finger spreader 40 is arranged to initially engage the camming surface portions 22 at a first cross sectional portion of the spreader and subsequently engage the camming surface 26 at progressively larger cross sectional portions of the finger spreader 40 . In the illustrated
- the finger spreader 40 is positioned to progressively engage respective coming surface portions 22 of the plurality of gripper fingers 20 .
- the figures clearly show an inclined outer surface 42 of the finger spreader on which the camming surface portions engage.
- progressive engagement or disengagement should be taken to describe a condition where successive portions of the finger spreader 40 engage or disengage the respective camming surface portions 22 of the gripper fingers 20 .
- successive points along the inclined surface 42 of the finger spreader may be presented for engagement with the camming surface portions 22 .
- the gripper fingers 20 are shaped and the pivot assembly 30 is arranged such that progressive engagement of respective camming surface portions 22 by the finger spreader 40 causes the object engaging portions 26 to be drawn away from each other and such that progressive disengagement of respective camming surface portions 22 and the finger spreader 40 causes the object engaging portions 26 to be drawn towards each other.
- the gripper fingers 20 open as the finger spreader 40 moves in the direction A and the gripper fingers 20 close as the finger spreader 40 moves in the direction B.
- FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the gripper fingers 20 in the closed position.
- FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the gripper fingers 20 in the open position. As clearly shown in FIGS.
- the each gripper finger pivots about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of that particular gripper finger.
- the first cross sectional portion and the progressively larger cross sectional portions of the finger spreader 40 are circular.
- the camming surface portions 22 are arranged to rest against an axial stop 44 upon disengagement of the camming surface portions 22 and the finger spreader 40 .
- the finger spreader 40 is arranged to progressively engage and disengage the camming surface portions 22 by moving along the axial stop 44 in the opposite directions A, B.
- the axial stop 44 defines an axial stop cross section that is no larger than a cross section of an object to be manipulated.
- the axial stop 44 may define a circular axial stop cross section with a diameter that substantially matches, or is slightly smaller than the cross section of the object to be manipulated.
- a gripper finger bracket 46 is arranged along the gripper fingers 20 between respective camming surface portions 22 and respective bearing surface portions 24 .
- the gripper finger bracket 46 is arranged to define respective arcuate finger bracket apertures 48 through which respective gripper fingers 20 move upon progressive engagement and disengagement of the camming surface portions by the finger spreader 40 .
- a comparison of FIGS. 1B and 2B illustrates the path of movement of the gripper fingers 20 through the respective finger bracket apertures 48 .
- the bracket 46 serves to keep the biasing member 38 from slipping down the gripper fingers (see FIG. 2 B).
- the gripper assembly 10 of the present invention is particularly well-suited for manipulating objects of a variety of different shapes and sizes. More specifically, the gripper assembly 10 of the present invention is able to grasp objects of differing shapes and sizes because the individual fingers 20 of the gripper assembly are effectively spring loaded and movable along independent paths and axes. In addition, the gripper assembly 10 is well suited for picking and placing closely spaced objects including oversized caps or top portions because the object engaging portions 26 of the gripper fingers 20 are small in diameter and converge radially inwards relative to the bearing surface portions 24 of the gripper fingers 20 . In one application of the present invention, the gripper assembly 10 is utilized for picking and placing test tubes spaced 22 mm on center.
- an object manipulator 50 includes a rotary turret assembly 60 and a plurality of gripper assemblies 10 .
- the rotary turret assembly 60 defines a plurality of gripper assembly stations 62 .
- One of the gripper assembly stations is positioned in a gripper pick/place position 64 .
- Individual gripper assemblies 10 are arranged in respective ones of the gripper assembly stations 62 .
- the rotary turret assembly 60 is arranged to rotate the gripper assembly stations 62 about a turret axis 66 so as to position a selected one of the gripper assembly stations 62 in the pick/place position 64 .
- the rotary turret assembly 60 includes a gripper actuator assembly 70 arranged to cause a gripper assembly 10 positioned in the pick/place position 64 to execute an object pick/place operation.
- each gripper assembly 10 is is removably secured in respective ones of the gripper assembly stations 62 .
- a magnetic coupling 12 may be provided to removably secure each gripper assembly 10 in respective ones of the gripper assembly stations 62 .
- the gripper actuator assembly 70 is arranged to remove a gripper assembly 10 positioned in the pick/place position 64 from one of the gripper assembly stations 62 .
- the gripper actuator assembly 70 is further arranged to actuate the finger spreader 40 of the gripper assembly 10 positioned in the pick/place position 64 .
- the actuation of the finger spreader 40 is executed following removal of the gripper assembly 10 from the gripper assembly station 62 but it may be executed prior to removal as well.
- the gripper actuator assembly 70 is provided with a Z-axis drive 72 arranged to move a selected gripper assembly 10 along a Z-axis 76 parallel to the turret axis 66 to enable removal of the gripper assembly 10 positioned in the pick/place position 64 from the gripper assembly station 62 .
- the gripper actuator assembly 70 is further provided with a spreader actuator 74 arranged to engage a selected finger spreader 40 and move the finger spreader 40 in the direction A along an axis parallel to the turret axis 66 .
- the spreader actuator 74 includes a paddle 75 that is arranged to engage the flat top surface 41 of the finger spreader 40 .
- an object pick/place operation comprises an operation whereby an object is either transferred from an object holder to the manipulator 50 (picked) or transferred from the manipulator 50 to the object holder (placed).
- An object pick/place operation according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. However, it is contemplated that the present invention is not limited to the specific pick/place operation described in FIGS. 6-9.
- the object manipulation system comprises an X-Y positioner 80 arranged to move It within an X-Y plane 82 .
- the X-Y plane 82 is displaced from and parallel to an object plane 102 defined by a plurality of test tubes or other objects 100 .
- the object manipulator 50 is coupled to the X-Y positioner 80 so as to be movable with the X-Y positioner 80 . It is noted that although FIGS. 6-9 primarily illustrate a pick operation, the steps associated with a place operation may be readily discerned therefrom.
- the X-Y positioner 80 is activated to move the object manipulator 50 such that the gripper pick/place position 64 corresponds to the location of the object 100 to be picked.
- the rotary turret assembly 60 indexes an empty gripper assembly 10 into the gripper pick/place position 64 (see FIG. 6 ).
- the gripper actuator assembly 70 has not yet engaged the gripper assembly 10 in the gripper pick/place position 64 .
- the Z-axis drive 72 holds the actuator assembly 70 at the upper end of the Z-axis 76 .
- the Z-axis drive 72 moves the actuator assembly 70 along the Z-axis 76 to allow the actuator assembly 70 to engage the tapered arm 14 of the gripper assembly 10 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ).
- the actuator assembly 70 includes a lock mechanism 78 arranged to close about the gripper assembly 10 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 .
- the Z-axis drive 72 moves the actuator assembly 70 further along the Z-axis so as to remove the gripper assembly 10 positioned in the pick/place position 64 from the gripper assembly station 62 (see FIG. 8 ).
- the Z-axis drive 72 need merely be powerful enough to overcome the force of the magnetic coupling 12 described above with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1 B, 2 A, and 2 B.
- the gripper actuator assembly 70 is further provided with a spreader actuator 74 arranged to engage a selected finger spreader 40 and move the finger spreader 40 in the direction A along an axis parallel to the Z-axis 76 so as to open the gripper fingers 20 .
- the spreader actuator 74 includes a paddle 75 that is arranged to engage the flat top surface 41 of the finger spreader 40 (see FIG. 8 ).
- the spreader actuator 74 is engaged following removal of the gripper assembly 10 from the gripper assembly station 62 .
- the gripper fingers 20 are illustrated in the open position in FIG. 8 .
- the gripper actuator assembly 70 allows the finger spreader 40 to return to the finger closed position under the biasing force of the biasing member 38 and grip a selected object 100 (see FIGS. 6 and 9, object 100 shown in FIG. 6 ).
- the Z-axis drive 72 is then activated to return the object 100 and the gripper assembly 10 to the gripper assembly station 62 in the gripper pick/place position 64 .
- the rotary turret assembly 60 indexes the next empty gripper assembly 10 to the gripper pick/place position 64 to prepare for another pick operation.
- the gripper finger bracket 46 , the gripper finger pivot assembly 30 , and the finger spreader 40 are constructed of Delrin® acetal resin, a crystalline plastic made by the polymerization of formaldehyde, available from DuPont.
- the gripper fingers 20 are constructed of stainless steel wire.
- a bar code reader assembly 90 is secured to the object manipulator 50 and is positioned to read a bar code label 94 present on an abject 100 held by the gripper assembly 10 moving from the pick/place position 64 to the next indexed position 64 ′.
- the object manipulator 50 and rotary turret assembly 60 may be arranged to cause the gripper assembly 10 to rotate 360° as it indexes from the pick/place position 64 to the next indexed position 64 ′.
- the bar code present on the object 100 is assured to be moved through the field of view of the reader 90 along the reader beam projection 92 as it indexes from the pick/place position 64 to the next indexed position 64 ′, regardless of the orientation of the object 100 in the gripper assembly 10 .
- the gripper fingers 20 of the present invention are particularly well-suited for the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 10 because their dimensions and arrangement are such that they avoid substantial interference with the field of view of the reader 90 .
- the reader 90 may comprise a conventional bar code reader or any other type of electromagnetic device for reading identification indicia present on the object 100 .
- the bar code information may be utilized to identify the object 100 that has been picked and make decisions as to where to locate the object 100 .
Abstract
Description
Claims (36)
Priority Applications (1)
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US09/628,969 US6435582B1 (en) | 2000-07-31 | 2000-07-31 | Object manipulator and manipulation system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US09/628,969 US6435582B1 (en) | 2000-07-31 | 2000-07-31 | Object manipulator and manipulation system |
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US6435582B1 true US6435582B1 (en) | 2002-08-20 |
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US09/628,969 Expired - Fee Related US6435582B1 (en) | 2000-07-31 | 2000-07-31 | Object manipulator and manipulation system |
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Cited By (40)
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EP1361441A1 (en) * | 2002-05-10 | 2003-11-12 | F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag | Method and apparatus for transporting a plurality of test tubes in a measuring system |
US20030209091A1 (en) * | 2002-05-10 | 2003-11-13 | Christof Fattinger | Method and apparatus for transporting a plurality of test tubes in a measuring system |
US20040074320A1 (en) * | 2002-08-30 | 2004-04-22 | Teruaki Itoh | Specimen container chuck apparatus |
US20050169733A1 (en) * | 2004-01-29 | 2005-08-04 | Drynkin Alexander V. | Automated tube handler system |
US20060226139A1 (en) * | 2005-04-06 | 2006-10-12 | Craig Jennings | Wok-piece positioner |
GB2436100A (en) * | 2006-03-16 | 2007-09-19 | Aew Delford Group Ltd | Gripper device for picking and placing a plurality of items |
US20080061078A1 (en) * | 2005-04-21 | 2008-03-13 | Parata Systems, L.L.C. | Devices Useful in System and Method for Dispensing Prescriptions |
US20080164022A1 (en) * | 2007-01-09 | 2008-07-10 | Schlumberger Technology Corp. | System and method for testing tubular well products |
US20080315603A1 (en) * | 2007-06-22 | 2008-12-25 | Data I/O Corporation | Pick and place system |
US7494168B1 (en) * | 2005-01-19 | 2009-02-24 | David Miller | Test tube picker for rack stored test tubes |
US20100028214A1 (en) * | 2008-07-31 | 2010-02-04 | Hamilton Storage Technologies, Inc. | Tube picking mechanism for an automated, ultra-low temperature storage and retrieval system |
US20100203643A1 (en) * | 2008-11-12 | 2010-08-12 | Brian Austin Self | Sample Rack System |
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US20120059517A1 (en) * | 2010-09-07 | 2012-03-08 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Object gripping system, object gripping method, storage medium and robot system |
GB2500261A (en) * | 2012-03-16 | 2013-09-18 | Tap Biosystems Phc Ltd | An apparatus and method for separating individual sealed tubes from an array of tubes sealed with a membrane |
US8703492B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2014-04-22 | Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc. | Open platform hybrid manual-automated sample processing system |
US20140119865A1 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Workpiece pick-up and positioning device |
US20140117690A1 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | Aoi Seiki, Co., Ltd. | Chucking apparatus |
US20140212246A1 (en) * | 2013-01-25 | 2014-07-31 | Exis Tech Sdn Bhd | Apparatus for picking, placing and pressing semiconductor components |
CN104175310A (en) * | 2014-08-22 | 2014-12-03 | 苏州昌飞自动化设备厂 | Lift type manipulator of color sorting combined manipulator |
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